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Man, 70, accused of beating neighbour told to stay away

A 68-year-old man accused of attacking his neighbour, who was allegedly beaten with a stick and bitten by a dog, has been granted $50,000 bail. Sonnylal Choon, of Debe, appeared before San Fernando Fourth Court Magistrate Margaret Alert charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Davi Singh, 32. Singh, a businesswoman, who was also in court, wore a bandage over her head, her right eye was swollen and used a walking stick. The alleged incident took place at Ramrattan Maharaj Trace, Debe, last Thursday.

It is alleged that the two, who lived a house apart, were involved in an argument and Choon dragged Singh into the road and began beating her with a stick. She was wounded on her head and Choon’s dog allegedly bit her on her right leg. Singh was treated at the San Fernando General Hospital. Choon was arrested and charged by PC Raju Ramsankar of the San Fernando Police Station. Ramsankar had the exhibit (the stick), which was broken into three pieces, in court. The charge was amended from Section 12 to 14 of the Offences Against the Person Act after prosecutor Sgt Hajarie was instructed to do so.

Choon was not called upon to plead since the charge was laid indictably. His attorney, El Farouk Hosein, said he was a heart patient and a first-time offender. The prosecutor confirmed the accused had no previous convictions or pending matters and did not object to bail. However, Sgt Hajarie asked that a bail condition be attached so that Choon, who lives close to the victim, did not have contact with her. The magistrate ordered him to stay 50 feet away from Singh and have no contact with her. “Do not speak with her, do not send a message, do not text her, do not send a family member to communicate a message to her,” the magistrate said. The matter was transferred to the First Court and adjourned to January 27.